Gov. Kay Ivey and other state and local leaders cut the ribbon on the Choccolocco Research, Education, Arts and Technology Experience (CREATE) center in Oxford. The center opened its doors to students in August.
CREATE is a regional education, workforce development and technology center aimed at providing training and credentialing opportunities in engineering, green power, computer science, robotics, comprehensive commercial construction and modern manufacturing. According to its website, for this initial phase, CREATE is accepting students from Oxford City Schools.
Phase 2, which is slated to start in August 2025, will see the number of students expand by accepting students from Calhoun, Cleburne, Clay, Talladega and St. Clair counties. It also will add pathways to include cybersecurity, mechanical and electrical industrial maintenance, mechatronics, transportation, distribution, logistics, STEM research, innovation and technology development.
The third phase, which is to start in August 2026, will add aviation as a pathway.
The center is open to high school students and adults.
